Consumer Rights following used car purchase

zoetarch1

Hi all, 
I am hoping for some advice following a used car purchase from Trade Centre UK.
I purchased a used car from their Coventry Branch on 25th July 2024. At the time I was told they couldn’t find the service history document so they would send it to me but I’ve never received it. I also purchased their lifetime warranty.
On 27th December 2024 the car broke down, as over the Christmas period it couldn’t be checked until 2nd Jan, I had to pay to have it towed to the mechanic and for the diagnostics check. The mechanic discovered the turbocharger inside the engine had collapsed and the wet belt had failed. They deemed that it needs a new engine or they could try replacing the wet belt and the turbocharger but it may not work and would then need a new engine. The warranty would not cover it as they stated it’s not covered in their T&C’s as could be due to pre existing owner. Trade Centre want the chance to repair it as obviously they get ‘one chance to repair’ but conveniently they can’t get the car booked in until 28th Jan which would take me over 6 months since I purchased the car, even though I heard one of the mechanics say they had slots available to another customer. They also can’t provide me with a courtesy car as they don’t know what they have booked in each day until that day! Trade Centre stated they might only change the wetbelt and if that fails in a few months then they can have another look then! If it does need a new engine it would reconditioned not brand new and they can’t guarantee if it will last!
I would be really grateful if anyone could advice me if I have to let them attempt to repair it as I’ve read up on the Consumer Rights Act and a lot of sites states that they can repair or replace the car. I really want to reject the car as I’ve lost total faith in them and the amount of customers who were also there with the same problems as me on-going for years has really put me off and obviously these faults were there when I purchased the car as I’ve only had for 5 months.

Thanks in advance

born_again

Can you provide some car details?
Make, age ,mileage. Has it been serviced since bought etc.

Clocked stopped on the 6 months. But your garage could supply a report for you?

zoetarch1

Thanks for replying,

it’s a ford focus eco boost, 6 years old 42,685 mileage

i hasn’t been serviced since purchase as only had for 5 months 

the garage have supplied a report for me

thanks 

TELLIT01

I've learnt to be extremely sceptical if a dealership claims either not to be able to find the documentation or that it is held at a different branch.  I purchased a 6 month old Nissan Micra and was given the same story, although the salesman claimed it was a 'one owner from new' vehicle.  It was quite high mileage for a 6 month old car, but as it would be a second car and wouldn't have excessive use that didn't concern me unduly.  When I finally received the V5 it confirmed it was 'one owner from new', the bit I wasn't told was that the 'one owner' was a car rental company.  I wouldn't have touched it with a bargepole had I known, but fortunately have had no problem with it in 17 years of ownership :-)

Ectophile

You can ask for what you want.  But ultimately, the seller can choose to replace, repair or refund, whichever is the most cost effective for them.  You are outside the 30 day right to reject period.

Alderbank

zoetarch1 said:

Thanks for replying,

it’s a ford focus eco boost, 6 years old 42,685 mileage

i hasn’t been serviced since purchase as only had for 5 months 

the garage have supplied a report for me

thanks 

I see from your other thread about this purchase that even back in August you were unimpressed with that dealership

  ('I (stupidly) recently purchased a car from Trade Centre UK... I know it wa a huge mistake buying a car from them...').

 In spite of that and the lack of any previous service history you just drove it round until it finally gave up the ghost just after Christmas.

Turbo failure and timing belt failure are well known issues with that series of engines and enthusiasts stress the importance of regular oil changes using the correct specification of lubricant. You might find it difficult to prove that the engine problems are not due to driving it around for months during your ownership with old, contaminated lubricant in the sump.  You need that proof (on balance of probabilities) to have any chance of rejecting the vehicle.

born_again

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6547654/trade-centre-uk-warranty-issues#latest
Other thread.

So was the purchased car serviced before purchase & you have a invoice stating what was done?

Grumpy_chap

zoetarch1 said:

I purchased a used car from their Coventry Branch on 25th July 2024.

The warranty would not cover it as they stated it’s not covered in their T&C’s as could be due to pre existing owner. 

In a way, that might work to your favour.
You are still within 6 months from purchase and the Dealer is deemed to be liable for any fault "existing or developing at the point of sale" and within 6 months it is for the Dealer to demonstrate that the fault was not "existing or developing" whereas after 6 months that evidence would fall to the OP to prove.
If the warranty has declined because the fault was pre-existing, then the Dealer must be liable.

zoetarch1 said:

conveniently they can’t get the car booked in until 28th Jan which would take me over 6 months since I purchased the car

The clock stops once the issue is reported.

zoetarch1 said:

If it does need a new engine it would reconditioned not brand new 

That actually seems reasonable.  You purchased a used car with a used engine.  If a reconditioned engine is fitted to replace the original engine, you will still have a used car with a used engine.  Only brand new cars come with brand new engines.